Joseph Campbell once commented: "No one has given us such a concise introduction to the whole history of the Far Eastern development of Buddhist thought as Alan Watts." This two-set collection contains six lectures recorded in 1965 and 1969 tracing the origin and spread of the religion of no-religion.

On "The Journey from India," Watts examines Indian cosmology and the differences between Hinduism and Buddhism. On "The Middle Way," he sums up the essence of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. "The Religion of No-Religion" focuses on Watts's respect for Zen and its eschewing of mind games.

Volume II consists of fascinating lectures by this inimitable American Zen master on dialogue in Buddhism, the spiritual practices of Tibetan Buddhism, and the process of transcending duality in Tantric yoga.